Ever since the bus had been returned to the road I had an overwhelming desire to take the vehicle back to Chesterfield. Accordingly
a date was set for this to take place and preparations began to ensure that people in Chesterfield would know about the event.
I contacted the Derbyshire Times and made them aware that JRA would be returning on August 8th and arranged with Chesterfield Museum
for it to be displayed on Corporation Street with the plan to make at least one run to the Revolution House. Also we managed to let
Transpire members know that the bus would be available that evening, for a tour around the area.
So, we departed JRA’s garage in Westerhope, north west of Newcastle at 7-00am and trundled down the A1 at a steady 38-40mph. A driver
change at Scotch Corner at 8-10 and an arrival at Ferrybridge at 9-40 meant there was time for breakfast before departing Ferrybridge
at 10-15 and arriving at junction 30 of the M1 at 11-15.
We made our way to Old Whittington for a lunch stop where Joe & FloTurner, my in law’s and their neighbours, were waiting to greet
us. Joe had driven the bus many times during his job as a driver for Chesterfield Corporation Transport and he was delighted to see it
back on the road and looking so good.
After being plied with mountains of delicious food from the catering department of the Turner family we made our way into Chesterfield
town centre and made our appearance at 14-55 outside the Chesterfield Museum where a crowd of people were waiting to welcome JRA 635 back
home to the town where she had spent all of her working life. People seemed so pleased to see the bus looking and sounding so good and I
was delighted to have achieved my ambition of restoring her and finally bringing her “home”.
After an hour of people taking photos and making comments about the bus we set off for the trip to Old Whittington with a full load
of passengers. I was extremely keen to see how she would climb Whittington Hill fully loaded and couldn’t have been more surprised at
how easy this part of the journey was achieved. Although I had to change down to 2nd gear at the final, steep part of the hill, the
bus breezed along, seeming not to notice the 30 plus passengers who had joined us for this short trip.
More photos were taken outside the Revolution House before departing at 16-30 to arrive back in town and drop off our passengers.
Then it was time for tea and we headed off to my sister’s house on Chatsworth Road where the bus was reversed into their capacious
driveway and parked with the destination blind set for Vincent Crescent, a location just yards away from my sister’s house.
We later moved on again arriving at Chesterfield Town Hall at 18-00 and picked up Transpire members for a tour of the area taking
in the following locations:- Elder Way, Vicar Lane, Hasland, Storforth Lane, Langer Lane, Stephenson Place, Rose Hill, Brampton Terminus,
town centre, New Whittington, Barrow Hill, Staveley and Brimington, returning eventually to Rose Hill at 20-55. During this evening trip
we were accompanied by Fleetline 123 and it was nice to see two green and cream vehicles together on the streets of Chesterfield. It had
been a long day but everything had gone according to plan and the bus had behaved itself well, apart from at Ferrybridge where, for
some reason the starter motor had failed to do it’s job and we had to bump start the bus. This particular problem reared it’s head on
a number of subsequent occasions following the Chesterfield trip and will be covered in the “Trials & Tribulations” article to be
published at a later date.
This was still in the pre digital camera age so lots of film was used during our busy day and the cameras were certainly clicking
during our time spent at the many photo stops made during the Transpire evening trip. One shot that I’ve really regretted not capturing
is to have posed the bus outside the Red Lion pub on Vicar Lane where Roy Marshall took one of JRA in this location in 1949 and I
thought it would have been nice to have replicated this shot in more modern times. It wasn’t to be however, as when we arrived at
Vicar Lane there was already a coach parked in the very spot that I wanted. I thought, not to worry, I will maybe return and take
one later. This never happened and sadly, Vicar Lane was redeveloped before I could return and take that valuable photo. I have attached
a selection of photos taken during the trip and look with affection and pride at how the bus just looks so much at home on the
streets of Chesterfield.
D Gambles
The picture taken by Roy Marshall in 1949 outside the Red Lion and the one I wanted to replicate but never did owing to the re-development of
Vicar Lane. R Marshall
This was the closest I could park to the Red Lion on Vicar Lane and is roughly where the Ann Summers shop is now located! D Gambles
Rose Hill where JRA would have parked many times, when on the Barlow and Cutthorpe services. D Gambles
It had been a long time since the bus had carried a full load around Chesterfield. This was the scene just before the bus departed for a
run to the Revolution House at Old Whittington. Can you spot any familiar faces? D Gambles
During the evening run for Transpire members we paused at New Whittington where a young David Gambles started out in life. 123 and a Lynx
wait behind, whilst David Hogg, one of my co drivers on the trip, waits patiently for yet more photographs to be taken! D Gambles
The 123 Group kindly accompanied us on the evening tour and here both vehicles pose at Brampton Terminus. It is difficult to believe in these
cost conscious times that 48’s sister vehicle JRA 634 was converted into a mobile canteen and could often be parked in exactly the same
location as we see JRA 635, in order to provide refreshments to the crews on the cross town routes. D Gambles
Two old relics together again after many years, one much older than the other! Colin Sellers captured JRA parked outside the Revolution
House in Old Whittington.
Rose Hill in the evening sunshine, with 123 in the background. D Gambles
Another shot by Colin Sellers showing me hauling the bus onto Knifesmithgate during one of the circuits of the town centre.